pathology
noun
pa·thol·o·gy
pə-ˈthä-lə-jē 
plural pathologies
1
: the study of the essential nature of diseases and especially of the structural and functional changes produced by them
studied plant pathology
2
: something abnormal:
a
: the structural and functional deviations from the normal that constitute disease or characterize a particular disease
the pathology of pneumonia
b
: deviation from propriety or from an assumed normal state of something nonliving or nonmaterial
the pathology of wine
c
: deviation giving rise to social ills
connections between these pathologies … and crime—
Wendy Kaminer
Wendy Kaminersocial pathology
Examples of pathology in a Sentence
the pathology of lung diseases
Recent Examples on the Web
Yet, even beyond the cases of outright abuse, Mickey Rooney’s memoir and biographies reveal a not unrelated pathology.
—Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
Beginning next year, Cal State San Marcos will use the spot as a hub for bachelor’s degree programs in business administration, computer information systems, cybersecurity, human development and bilingual speech language pathology.
—Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Oct. 2025
My patient specific 3-D anatomic models have also improved patient education and understanding of orthopaedic pathology and surgical treatments.
—Alexis Kayser, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025
But the oncologist said, there was bad news on the pathology report.
—Wendy Grossman Kantor, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pathology
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Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
Beginning next year, Cal State San Marcos will use the spot as a hub for bachelor’s degree programs in business administration, computer information systems, cybersecurity, human development and bilingual speech language pathology.
—Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Oct. 2025
My patient specific 3-D anatomic models have also improved patient education and understanding of orthopaedic pathology and surgical treatments.
—Alexis Kayser, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025
But the oncologist said, there was bad news on the pathology report.
—Wendy Grossman Kantor, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pathology
Cite this Entry
“Pathology.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pathology. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
pathology
noun
pa·thol·o·gy
pə-ˈthäl-ə-jē
plural pathologies
1
: the study of diseases and especially of the changes in the body produced by them
2
: something abnormal
especially
: the disorders in structure and function that occur in a particular disease
Medical Definition
pathology
noun
pa·thol·o·gy
-jē
plural pathologies
1
: the study of the essential nature of diseases and especially of the structural and functional changes produced by them
2
: the anatomic and physiological deviations from the normal that constitute disease or characterize a particular disease
3
: a treatise on or compilation of abnormalities
a new pathology of the eye
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